 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chipper
Date: 2006-12-21 14:52
My wife and I are at odds about the etiquette of tuning on stage before a preformance. She says it is unprofessional to do anything but play a tuning note when called to do so. All musicians should sit quietly untill the preformance. Our local symphony and the civic band I play with both have this cacophony of sound before the tunning note. Many musicians warming up, going over individual parts, solos, etc. I say it adds to the electricity and anticipation of the preformance. She contends it is downright unprofessional. Who's right?
C
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 15:01
As long as the audience is allowed to chatter before the performance, the musicians are allowed to tootle. It just adds to the atmosphere. My opinion.
--
Ben
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-12-21 15:38
i agree with Tictactux
I just had the great pleasure of hearing the Utah Symphony, and there was a lot of tootling going on as the musicians congregated. Some, not in the instrumentation for the first piece warmed up on stage and left.
The whole thing built up anticipation for the coming performance.
The formal tuning was disposed of quickly by the concertmaster.
Bob Phillips
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-12-21 16:09
Why leave it to chance?
Block their mouths and tie their hands behind their backs until the concert starts.
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Author: chipper
Date: 2006-12-21 16:20
Well, even though I seem to be right, I like my marriage and so will smugly keep the verdict to myself
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2006-12-21 16:24
Playing before the official tuning note gets your instrument, fingers, airstream, and brain warmed up and acclimates the performer to the concert hall environment. It is perfectly professional to do this. Things that aren't professional are goofing around, socializing, playing super loud or making strange sound effects, and dressing badly.
Lori
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Author: CPW
Date: 2006-12-21 18:01
Ya mean Batting Practice?
Sure!
Of course you need to use the proper fork.
Against the windmills of my mind
The jousting pole splinters
Post Edited (2006-12-21 18:02)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-12-21 18:39
For players I think it is also very important not to just play the A when the oboe sounds it...but instead let the Oboe A settle and then tune. Too mamy players just jump in not letting the A settle to the pitch after the sound initiates on the Oboe.
David Dow
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-12-21 20:17
Unless you're giving the tuning note (on oboe) to the Royal Navy band and no bugger even bothers to check their tuning until you've finished (after keeping it going for a pretty long time by which time you've turned blue), then - and only then they all decide to begin to tune in a half-arsed manner by which time I've given up bothering with them all.
Well, that's what happened yesterday - I gave them ample opportunity, though it only fell on tone-deaf ears.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ChrisArcand
Date: 2006-12-21 22:25
While I also believe that warming up is absolutely essential to any performance, and a thousand other reasons why it's okay to play beforehand on stage, I'll post this comment as it may not have been said before:
I happen to enjoy watching orchestras warming up because it is good to see different musician's methods and ideas. I remember a concert by the Minnesota Orchestra not too long ago where it was nice to hear Greg Williams playing a few phrases of the upcoming performance, trying different reeds, etc. Maybe it's just me, I just like to hear musicians' methods and sound.
If anything, it's neither improper nor proper. It's just acceptable.
Actually, I think that sitting in almost silence before a concert would be almost uncomfortable...I don't recall ever attending a professional orchestra concert and people weren't warming up.
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Author: Detru Cofidin
Date: 2006-12-22 21:25
It's exciting to me. I think as an athlete stretches and warms up for an event or game, it is proper for musicians to do the same before a concert. I don't see how it is "unprofessional."
Nicholas Arend
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Author: Burt
Date: 2006-12-22 23:26
I agree that it makes sense to play a little before tuning. It helps the musicians get used to the acoustics of the hall and to keep their instruments warm. It also prevents an awkward silence before tuning.
My only objection is when players (I won't call them "musicians") play raucous sounds, such as extremely loud or extremely high notes (clarinetists and trumpeters seem to be the worst about this) or play jazz before a classical concert.
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Author: vin
Date: 2006-12-23 00:08
In Europe, many orchestras don't warm-up on stage. In Germany, musicians enter together often very promptly at concert time. The Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Concertgebouw (the halls themselves) have individual warmup rooms for the different sections of the orchestra (wind, string, brass, etc.). In Leipzig the clarinets get their own room! Having done it both ways, I really think there are merits to both. After all, no one watches ballet dancers warm up beforehand, but I'll also agree with the above postings that listening to one's idols/ colleagues/etc. warm-up is exciting.
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Author: John25
Date: 2006-12-23 14:12
I agree with "vin" - here in the UK orchestras usually warm up in a separate room and all come on together when they're ready to start playing.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-12-23 19:07
Every band or orchestra that I've ever played with did tuning behind the curtain (or openly if no curtain) before the start. I think the audience expects it and it is part of the concert "atmosphere" for them. As mentioned before, there's so much noise from the audience talking and finding their seats that it doesn't really matter.
I agree that it is absolutely polite to play in tune.
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